Saturday, Oct 5 – 15

Monday, February 4

National Day of Courage: Rosa Parks’ 100th Birthday Celebration

9:30 AM to 9:30 PM / The Henry Ford

A day of activities, music and speakers paying tribute to the courage of Rosa Parks, considered the mother of the Civil Rights Movement for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger. Don’t forget to check out the Rosa Parks bus.More

Tuesday, February 5

Rochester-Avon Historical Society’s February 2013 Brown Bag Meeting

12 Noon – 1:30 PM / Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow, Rochester

Local historian and Rochester-Avon Historical Society member Ray Henry will be the featured guest speaker at the Rochester-Avon Historical Society’s Brown Bag lunch on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, beginning at noon at the Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow Street in Rochester. Henry will present part II of his presentation on tombstone iconography at Mt. Avon Cemetery. Bring your lunch if you wish. Coffee and cookies will be provided. Admission is free. More

Thursday, February 7

The Rochester-Avon Historical Society’s first membership meeting of the new year will feature a lively discussion about Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne. Named for Revolutionary war hero Gen. Anthony Wayne, the fort was originally constructed in the early 1840’s to protect Detroit from a possible British invasion. The 96-acre site was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1958 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Presenters Tom Berlucchi, chairman and co-founder of the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, and David Jamroz, a member of the Fort Wayne Coalition and co-author of Images of America: Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne, will discuss the history of the fort and their work with the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, an organization dedicated to preserving, improving and restoring one of Michigan’s historic gems. Meeting/presentation is free. Public welcome, no reservations required. More

Sunday, Feb 10

View, experience, and discuss what modern society might otherwise deem taboo. Come see what it was like to have a funeral with the coffin in the parlor of the family home in the 19th century and learn about the elaborate mourning customs of that era. Gain a new understanding of the importance of embalming and the role it played in turning funeral services into a profitable industry. Read about the histories of funeral businesses in Washtenaw County. There are artifacts, photographs, a private mausoleum and walk through a unique cemetery (and a digital one) filled with meaningful symbolism. More

Saturday, Feb 23

Incredible Journey to Midnight Detroit Underground Railroad Bus Tour

10 AM & 1:30 PM / Departs from The Park Shelton Lobby, Detroit

Join us as we travel throughout Midnight (code name for Detroit) and retrace the steps of Freedom Seekers at this final stop on the long and treacherous journey from slavery to freedom.More

Sunday, March 24

Marche Du Nain Rouge

1 PM to 7 PM / Cass Corridor – Starting point TBA

Join thousands of revelers as they join together in the streets to purge the bad and rejoice in the beginning of spring. Based on folklore dating back to Detroit’s early history, a parade of costumed revelers will drive out the Nain Rouge, or Red Dwarf, who has haunted Detroit for over 300 years bringing doom with every sighting .More

Earlier 2013 Events

Saturday, Jan 5

Andersonville Prison Presentation by John Keller

1 PM / Monroe County Historical Museum

An in depth look at the horrific conditions Union soldiers endured while imprisoned at Camp Sumpter military prison at Andersonville. This infamous Georgia prison was one of the largest Confederate prisons during the Civil War. More than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined to this prison during the 14 months it existed; 13,000 died .More

Sunday, Jan 6

150th Anniversary of the Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation

1 PM & 3 PM / Detroit Historical Museum

Join Detroit Historical Society’s Black Historic Sites Committee event to commemorate the city’s first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation which took place in 1863 at Second Baptist Church.More

Saturday, January 12

St. James Episcopal Church “An Architectural Jewel”

9:30 AM / St. James Episcopal Church, Grosse Ile

Built with funds bequeathed by a former slave, the final presentation in the St. James Red Door History Series focuses on the beautiful architecture of this historic church designed by renowned Detroit architect Gordon W. Lloyd.

Known as a leading architect of Episcopalian churches and cathedrals, Lloyd also designed numerous non-secular buildings including prominent residences and commercial buildings. His work can still be seen throughout Michigan including Building 50, a former asylum in Traverse City that has been transformed into boutiques, eateries, and residences. Well-known Detroit building still standing include The Whitney, Christ Church and Central United Methodist Church.

In addition to beautiful carved woodwork, the chapel also features a Tiffany glass window.More

Ghosts of the River Raisin

1 PM / River Raisin National Battlefield Visitor Center

Presentation and book signing by Charles Slat, author of Ghosts of the River Raisin .More

Monday, Jan 14

Forgotten Landmarks of Detroit with Dan Austin

7 PM / McShane’s Irish Pub & Whiskey Bar, Detroit

Enjoy history and a brew or two at this Detroit Drunken Historical Society Meetup featuring Dan Austin, author of Forgotten Landmarks of Detroit and several other books highlighting Detroit history and the city’s unique architecture. More

Friday, Jan 18

History of Hines Drive

7 PM / Nankin Mills Interpretive Center, Westland

Free history seminar on the shared vision of Henry Ford and Edward N. Hines, both members of the original Wayne County Board of Road Commissioners in 1906, of creating paved roadways and preserving land along the rivers in southeastern Michigan for roadside parks. Featured speaker: Nancy Darga, former Wayne County Parks Manager of Design, Parks Historian and Managing Director of Motor Cities National Heritage Area. More

Friday – Sunday, Jan 18-20

200th Anniversary Observance of the Battle of the River Raisin

Events take place throughout Monroe

Weekend series of events including concerts, dinners, lectures, reenactments and memorial service to commemorate the bicentennial of the bloodiest battle of the War of 1812 which became the impetus behind the rally cry: Remember the Raisin! 1812 Bicentennial Events Schedule (Official PDF flyer of events). More

Monday, Jan 21

From Cass Corridor to the World: A Tribute to Detroit’s Musical Golden Age

7:30 PM / Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor

Can music celebrate a city? Every city has had a Golden Age. In most places, the Golden Age dies, but in Detroit it remains unbroken through many different forms, from Jazz to Motown to techno and hip-hop.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, UMS and the U-M MLK Day Symposium celebrate the very unique relationship of the city of Detroit to the music it helped create and shape. Beginning with trumpeter and educator Gerald Wilson (a Cass Technical High School graduate) and continuing through the great Detroit artists and mentors who have sustained the music through the second half of the 20th century, Detroit continues to nurture and create international trends in contemporary music-making and songwriting.

With world-renowned jazz pianist and Detroit native Geri Allen serving as music director and the D3 trio serving as house band, From Cass Corridor to the World musically narrates this spectacular and unique journey with celebrated Detroit artists. More

Saturday, January 26

Henry Ford: His Life and Times

1:30 AM to 10 AM / First United Methodist Church of Royal Oak, 320 W. 77th Street

Automotive historian Russell Dore discusses Henry Ford’s inventions, family life, way he changed the world as well as the positive and controversial aspects of this automotive icon. Church breakfast club meeting but open to the public. Breakfast follows. Free presentation, donation offering accepted for breakfast. Reservations required.More